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FDA Certificate to Foreign Government (CFG) Legalization for Arab Countries
Saudi Arabia’s SFDA, Egypt’s regulators, the UAE and other Arab health and food authorities ask U.S. exporters for an FDA Certificate to Foreign Government (CFG) before they register food, cosmetics or medical devices. Because the FDA issues it, it follows the federal route. The Arab American Chamber of Commerce takes your CFG to the U.S. Department of State and, where needed, the embassy.
A federal document: no notary, no Secretary of State. The CFG is signed by an FDA official, so it goes directly to the U.S. Department of State. Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Bahrain and Algeria accept the Department of State apostille with no embassy step. Every other Arab country adds embassy legalization in Washington.
What an FDA CFG Is
A Certificate to Foreign Government is the FDA’s export certificate confirming that a product can be legally marketed in the United States and that its manufacturer is registered with the FDA. In practice, it is the U.S. federal certificate of free sale for FDA-regulated food, cosmetics and medical devices. Arab regulators treat it as a key document in a registration file.
Medical device CFG
For devices sold in the U.S. Usually requested for device registration.
DevicesFood CFG
For food and dietary supplements, used for import approval and registration.
FoodCosmetics CFG
For cosmetics and personal-care products.
CosmeticsNot for drugs
Human drugs use the Certificate of a Pharmaceutical Product (COPP) instead.
See COPPChoose the Destination Country
Choose the country whose regulator needs the CFG to start your order.
Country
U.S. steps
Final step
U.S. stepsOriginal → U.S. Department of State apostille
Final stepApostille (since July 9, 2026)
U.S. stepsOriginal → U.S. Department of State authentication
Final stepEgyptian Embassy or consulate
U.S. stepsOriginal → U.S. Department of State authentication
Final stepEmbassy of Oman (business documents since 2021)
U.S. stepsOriginal → U.S. Department of State authentication
Final stepPalestinian legalization arranged by our team
U.S. stepsOriginal → U.S. Department of State apostille
Final stepApostille (since December 2022)
U.S. stepsOriginal → U.S. Department of State
Final stepUAE Embassy (through VFS Global), then MOFA in the UAE
U.S. stepsOriginal → U.S. Department of State authentication
Final stepEmbassy of Yemen ($120, or $170 rush)
Embassies charge commercial-document rates for FDA certificates. Yemen, for example, lists free sale certificates at $120, or $170 rush. We confirm the fee with your order.
How an FDA CFG Is Legalized
- Request the CFG from the FDAApply through the FDA’s export certificate system and list the destination country and every product the regulator will register.
- Check it before legalizationProduct names, the manufacturer and the address must match your registration file exactly. Corrections have to come from the FDA, because legalized pages can’t be edited.
- U.S. Department of StateWe submit the original CFG to the Office of Authentications. For Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Bahrain and Algeria, its apostille completes the process.
- Embassy legalizationFor Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar and the other embassy countries, the embassy in Washington then legalizes the CFG. For the UAE, it goes through VFS Global, then MOFA.
- To your registration agentReturned with tracking, ready for translation and submission.
Common mistakes: having the CFG notarized, sending it to a Secretary of State (which can’t certify federal signatures), using a copy instead of the original, or a product list that doesn’t match the registration. Many regulators also want a recently issued CFG.
Required Documents
What to send us
- The original CFG exactly as the FDA issued it, unstapled and unaltered.
- Your product list from the registration file, so we can check names.
- Your online order for the destination country, paid online or through Pay Invoice.
- Return shipping: include a prepaid FedEx, UPS or USPS Priority Mail label, or add one when you check out.
Usually filed with the CFG
- Letter of authorization naming the local agent
- Certificate of analysis and technical data sheet
- ISO 13485 or other quality certificates
- Labels and product specifications
The Rest of the Registration File
Processing Time and Fees
Apostille countries
| Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Bahrain, Algeria | U.S. Department of State apostille |
| Notary or Secretary of State | Not needed |
| Embassy step | None |
Embassy countries
| U.S. Department of State | Authentication |
| Embassy fee | By country |
| Example: Yemen | $120, or $170 rush |
We start counting when your CFG arrives. You pay no notary or state fees, only our service fee and the return courier shown at checkout.
Why Choose the Arab American Chamber of Commerce?
Straight to the right officeFDA documents go directly to the U.S. Department of State, skipping the notary and state.
Checked against your fileWe compare products and the manufacturer with your registration before submission.
The full product fileCFG, authorization letter, COA and ISO certificate, legalized together.
Where to Send Your CFG
Maryland office (fastest)
Arab Chamber of Commerce
1615 Bay Head Rd., Annapolis, MD 21409
(410) 349-1212
Washington, D.C. headquarters
1330 New Hampshire Ave. NW, B1, Washington, DC
(202) 347-5800
Monday to Friday, 8:00 am to 6:00 pm ET
FDA CFG Legalization: Common Questions
Does an FDA CFG need to be notarized?
No. It is signed by an FDA official, so it is a federal document. It goes straight to the U.S. Department of State, and notarizing it can get it rejected.
Can the Secretary of State apostille a CFG?
No. A Secretary of State can certify only state officials and notaries. Federal documents are apostilled or authenticated by the U.S. Department of State.
Which Arab countries accept an apostille on it?
For a CFG, the apostille alone works in four Arab markets: Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Bahrain and, since July 9, 2026, Algeria. Registrations in Egypt, the UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Jordan, Oman and the rest also need the embassy step.
Is a CFG the same as a certificate of free sale?
For FDA-regulated food, cosmetics and devices, it is the federal free sale certificate. Drugs use a COPP, and products not sold in the U.S. use a certificate of exportability.
How recent should the CFG be?
Many Arab regulators want a recently issued certificate. Check the regulator’s rule, and legalize the CFG soon after you receive it.
Registering an FDA product in an Arab country?
Send us your CFG details. We’ll confirm the route and legalize your whole registration file.
Case 1 Examples
Business documents
Federally Issued documents
Case 2 Examples
Commercial Document:
Case 3 Examples
Personal Document:
Mailing
If you are using FedEx or UPS, please include a self-addressed air waybill for the return of your document.
Alternatively, you may use a USPS Priority Mail envelope with prepaid postage and a tracking number.
If you do not have a FedEx or UPS account, you can purchase an air waybill through this site in the next step.
Arab American Chamber of Commerce Headquarter Office
1330 New Hampshire Ave. NW, B1Washington, D.C. 20036
(202) 347-5800
1 888-939-ARAB
Arab Chamber of Commerce
1615 Bay Head Rd.Annapolis MD, 21409
(410) 349 - 1212
